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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Ecological Science

Undergraduate Course: Ecological and Environmental Analysis (ECSC09006)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryTo understand the way that ecological and environmental systems function, we often look for associations and seek evidence of causality, or to explane the dynamics of interactions between different components. We may want to identify mechanisms that enable us to make predictions for other systems or future change. Reaching robust conclusions requires collection of sound data and proper statistical interpretation. The EEA course equips students with an integrated knowledge of data and interpretation for use in their own dissertation projects and careers beyond.
Course description WEEKS 1 & 2
Recognising variability and uncertainty in environmental and ecological systems and their importance.
WEEK 3
Gathering data suited to explain environmental and ecological systems through surveys and sampling.
WEEKS 4-6
Establishing and describing the relationships between different environmental and/or ecological variables.
WEEKS 7-9
Design, analysis and interpretation of controlled experiments.
WEEKS 10-11
Use of dynamic simulation models.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  61
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 44, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 141 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Continuous assessment contributes 40% of the total marks for the course. This comprises the write up of the report on the Survey Exercise (25%) and a one page report on the Experimental Design paper (15%)
The Examination contributes the remaining 60% of the marks.

The Degree Exam in May will reflect the theory and practical aspects of the course covered in lectures and tutorials. Other tutorials mesh with Course Work, providing opportunity for critical feedback and guidance from peers, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Staff. There are no assessed attendance requirements on this course.

NOTE THAT BECAUSE A PERIOD OF REFLECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR ASSIMILATING THE MATERIAL AND CONCEPTS DEVELOPED IN THIS COURSE, THE EXAM IS HELD AT THE END OF SEMESTER 2.
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Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Ecological and Environmental Analysis2:00
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 44, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 141 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Continuous assessment contributes 40% of the total marks for the course. This comprises the write up of the report on the Survey Exercise (25%) and a one page report on the Experimental Design paper (15%)
The Examination contributes the remaining 60% of the marks.

The Degree Exam in May will reflect the theory and practical aspects of the course covered in lectures and tutorials. Other tutorials mesh with Course Work, providing opportunity for critical feedback and guidance from peers, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Staff. There are no assessed attendance requirements on this course.

NOTE THAT BECAUSE A PERIOD OF REFLECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR ASSIMILATING THE MATERIAL AND CONCEPTS DEVELOPED IN THIS COURSE, THE EXAM IS HELD AT THE END OF SEMESTER 2.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. To recognise variability and in environmental and ecological systems and to quantify uncertainty
  2. To define appropriate strategies for sampling and survey
  3. To explore data in ways that enable relationships to be established between different environmental and/or ecological variables
  4. To design, analyse and interpret controlled experiments
  5. To undersatnd recognise time series data and their use in simulation models and use current software to undertake analyses
Reading List
Ford E.D. (2000) Scientific Method for Ecological Research. Cambridge University Press;
Barnard C, Gilbert F & McGregor P (2001) Asking Questions in Biology. 2nd Edition. Pearson;
Feinsinger P (2001). Designing Field Studies for Biodiversity Conservation. Nature Conservancy, Washington;
Hughes IG & Hase TPA (2010) Measurements and their Uncertainty, Oxford University Press, Oxford;
Fowler J, Cohen L & Jarvis P (1998) Practical Statistics for Field Biology, 2nd Edition. John Wiley;
Grafen A & Hails R (2002) Modern statistics for the Life Sciences. Oxford University Press, Oxford;
Ennos R (2007) Statistical and Data Handling Skills in Biology. Pearson;
Ruxton GD & Colegrave N (2006) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford;
Haefner JW (1996) Modelling biological systems, Chapman & Hall, New York;
Smith J & Smith P (2007) Environmental Modelling: An Introduction, Oxford University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information One-hour lecture followed by two-hour practical class each week.

One-hour tutorial each week (either Mondays or Tuesdays)

NOTE THAT THE COURSE IS EXAMINED AT THE END OF SEMESTER 2, NOT S1
KeywordsECSC09006 EEA
Contacts
Course organiserDr Saran Sohi
Tel: (0131 6)51 4471
Email: saran.sohi@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Christine Lee
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Christine.Lee@ed.ac.uk
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